Plitvice Lakes National Park

If you are dreaming of a picture-perfect natural paradise and wish to treat yourself with a day or two surrounded by an untouched wonder of nature – with no exaggeration – think no further, Plitvice Lakes are the most breathtaking experience to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and indulge the unique turquoise waters, flora, fauna and the crispy air.

Advantageous location
The amazing ensemble of Plitvice waterfalls, made of 16 natural lakes is a UNESCO heritage site since 1979 and only about 130 km from the capital, Zagreb, as well as near the coastal cities of Split and Zadar, which makes it easy to visit in a day trip from those destinations as well.

Grant yourself a real-life fairy-tale
Try to start your park visit in the early morning, because you will walk the park without the crowd. Plitvice Lakes are one of the most popular tourist sites in Croatia and this part of Europe. So, it is completely different atmosphere without tourists! You will also be able take amazing postcard pictures of some of the most unforgettable sights, such as the Big waterfall (“Veliki Slap”). The crystal turquoise waters, green forests, chirping birds and the sound magnificent waterfalls take you to a different universe. In Plitvice, it is so easy to forget the everyday stress and noise. One cannot help but dwell on the beauty of creation around oneself and feel blessed to be part of this peaceful natural gorgeousness. Plitvice Lakes in Croatia is definitely the ultimate fairy-tale destination for all age groups.

Routes made of azure water, flora and fauna
With a total area of 300 square kilometres, the park is organised as a guided experience, where the visitor can individually choose his or her path around the lakes. In total, there are 16 lakes in the national park, which are all interconnected by a series of bridges, ferry, bus. Some routes take two hours, some can take up to eight, and for hardcore hikers there are also hikes that are not even on the tourist maps. (The lakes themselves occupy only 1% of the entire national park, so there is a lot else to see given the time.) Walking across the park will take your breath away as you breath in the pure oxygen and glance down and see deep into the clear azure water. Unfortunately, swimming in forbidden in the park since 2006. Inside the park, there is food and drinks to buy, but you can also pack yourself lunch or a sandwich and organise a picnic with family or friends, just make sure to clean after yourself, as nature is so vulnerable and depends on our care. Plitvice’s flora and fauna are also astonishing. There are thousands of plants and hundreds of bird and animal species you can stumble into during your adventure through its deep woodland.

Local gastronomy based on organic ingredients
If you want to eat like a local, in Plitvice area it is easy to try some of the delicious traditional local food and beverages, and at a reasonable price. The rich gastronomical offer in the whole Lika region is mostly based on traditional Lika cuisine, prepared from ingredients grown in an environmentally preserved areas of fields and pastures. If wondering where to stay the night, besides hotels, there are more and more private accommodations and bed and breakfasts around the national park that especially popular due to their unique family atmosphere and traditional home-made food. For those who want to indulge themselves, there are many villas offering spa and wellness experience.

Conquer the area in a fun way
You can enjoy the variety of landscape of Plitvice in many different ways. Conquer surrounding mountains on bike or by foot, rent a bike, hike or ride a horse. There is also rafting, paragliding, fishing and extreme sports available. Enjoy beautiful rustic villages that preserved life as it used to be. Not far away from Plitvice is also Nikola Tesla Memorial Center, a cultural-historical site and museum located at the birthplace of Nikola Tesla, one of the world’s foremost electrical researchers and inventors.

How many days is recommended?
It depends on how much time do you want to spend in paradise. The time really flies by in picture-perfect woodlands and the sound of water and chirping birds.

Think of visiting Plitvice in the winter?
It definitely looks gorgeous covered in snow as well when some waterfalls are frozen. A real-life Disney fairy-tale at its best.